Kansas City - Kansas City is heading towards becoming the most entrepreneurial city in the country. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is actively working to do its part in assisting Kansas City’s small business community in making its way to the top.

SBA, as part of the President’s initiative the “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership,” has awarded a grant of $126,422 to the Flynt Group Inc., for the purpose of conducting a supply chain analysis to assist the Kansas City area’s manufacturing community to rebuild, align resources, and increase opportunities for small businesses. Back in 1993, Kansas City, and particularly the Central Industrial District, experienced mass disruption due to the Missouri River’s Great Flood. And in 1998, a massive urban fire destroyed many of the remaining manufacturing facilities.

“This area, which has significant intermodal and geographic advantages, is beginning to rebuild and SBA is here to assist,” said SBA Kansas City District Director Roderick Cox. “We look forward to working with the Flynt Group as they conduct their analysis and to assisting in the growth and prosperity of our area’s small manufacturing businesses,” he continued.

Management at KCSourceLink, a fantastic on-line resource for customers of small business, has announced that they used some of the funds awarded to them from the SBA Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge Grant to develop the CEO Bullpen website. This on-line program assists innovators and researchers find CEOs and entrepreneurs to take their ideas to the marketplace. The website for this service is at www.ceobullpen.com.

“SBA is proud to partner with groups like KCSourceLink, the UMKC SBTDC and other resource partners to keep Kansas City’s rich entrepreneur spirit moving forward.” Cox said. He concluded his comments by saying, “Whether you are looking to start or expand your small business, your SBA is committed to helping the entrepreneurs of the Kansas City area make this the ‘Most Entrepreneurial City in the Country’.”